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Educational UAV • Open Classroom Testbed

Demonstrating Aircraft Dynamics with a Low‑Cost UAV

Built a foamboard R/C aircraft from hobby‑grade parts and everyday materials, engineered to be a hands‑on testbed for and educational experiments.

~1.6 m wingspan Foamboard airframe 4‑servo control (Pitch/Yaw/Roll×2) iterate → test → teach
Ground Test
Smile! Ground Test

Aircraft Overview & Specifications

Built both as a proof-of-concept and a useful classroom demonstration for AP Physics 1 students.

Demonstrator MK.1

Motor~2250 kV
Wingspan≈ 1.66 m

Airframe & Materials

Scored foamboard, balsa and hot‑glue assembly; planform derived from JoyPlanes. Cheap and lightweight structure enables rapid iteration and low‑risk field testing.

Controls & Actuation

Four‑servo setup providing elevator (pitch), rudder (yaw), and dual ailerons (roll). Used Spektrum motor, ESC, reciever, and DX6E transmitter.

Build Timeline

Step 1 — Validate Controls

Build on my initial proficiency with R/C piloting and gain by practicing with an Aeroscout 2.1 on the DX6E.

Step 2 — Airframe Fabrication

Foamboard fuselage and wing built from forum schematics. Correct initial errors in schematic and lengthen design wingspan by 0.2m.

Step 3 — Electrics Integration

Powerplant and control electronics installed; four‑servo control chosen to fully articulate pitch, yaw, and roll (×2 ailerons).

Step 4 — Test Flight #1: Diagnose

Unstable first attempts revealed design instability: insufficent lift generated from slightly asymetrical wings due to errors in the manufacturing process.

Step 4.5 — Weight Reduction

Airframe lightened; improvements noted but not sufficient for stable cruise.

Step 5 — Test Flight #2: Power & Balance

Upgraded motor and refined wing geometry. Center‑of‑gravity adjusted for better longitudinal stability.

Step 6 — Stable Flight Achieved

Third round of flight tests achieved reliable, controllable flight and achieved project goal.

Educational Experiments & Demonstrations

Core Concepts

Designed to make foundational ideas tangible for students in physics and introductory aerospace:

  • Lift & Pressure — connect Bernoulli’s principle and pressure differentials to observed wing performance.
  • Stability & Control — demonstrate pitch, yaw, and roll coupling as well as the concept of CG.
  • Power & Weight — show thrust‑to‑weight tradeoffs and effect of mass on takeoff distance and climb rate.

Sample Activities

  • Angle‑of‑Attack Sweep: Observe stall onset and lift curve trends with incremental elevator inputs.
  • CG Shift Demo: Add/remove small masses to illustrate effects on longitudinal stability and trim.
  • Control Reversal Test: Measure roll rate vs. aileron deflection; discuss yaw‑roll coupling.

All activities are designed for outdoor demos with safety buffers and spotters.

Curriculum Integration

AP Physics 1 Add‑On

Use the UAV as a recurring lab demo: free‑body diagrams in flight, forces in coordinated turns, and real‑world measurement of velocity and acceleration with onboard or ground‑based video analysis.

Topics reinforced: forces, energy, motion, pressure, Bernoulli, and experimental design.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to mentors and supporters who guided the build, flight testing, and curriculum design.

  • Mr. Rogers from the Bear Creek School
  • Janice Crew from the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA
  • Kaleb Shaw from UW DBF